Answer: You mean a CPAP - these are commonly prescribed for people with apnea. Apnea can be a serious problem, but there is some concern that sleep clinics and the CPAP machines have become big business. There is no accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea where a machine becomes essential. Most people, once they get used to the noise, do sleep well using these machines, but other remedies might also have helped.Sleeping on the back is often a problem. An old solution to that is to tape a tennis ball to the back of a T shirt and wear that in bed - it prevents the person from sleeping on their back; and that's pretty cheap!Other options may be repair of a deviated septum, or other surgery to fix problems in the throat.If your partner does not frequently stop breathing during the night, a CPAP may not really be necessary.